Facing five charges, including the assault of a police officer, a housewife was fined and placed on bail when she appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Thirty-two-year-old Adina Mars, of 275 3rd Street, Kaneville, East Bank of Demerara, pleaded guilty to one charge and not guilty to four others when they were read to her by Magistrate Ann McLennan.
It is alleged that Mars, at about 3A.M on December 25, resisted a Police Constable while he was acting in the execution of his duty. Mars pleaded guilty to this charge.
It was also alleged that she, on the same day in question, used threatening language at a police officer, unlawfully and maliciously damaged the clothing of a police officer, unlawfully assaulted a police officer, and behaved disorderly in a public place.
For the charge of disorderly behaviour, she was charged with two other women, Barbara Chance and Michelle Chance.
According to Prosecutor Deniro Jones, Police Constable Kevin Hector was on duty with other ranks at the Stabroek Market mobile outpost when Mars entered into the barriers and proceeded to urinate under the mobile setup. This act, Jones continued, occurred in front of the ranks.
Mars was approached by Hector and became enraged, allegedly exclaiming that she can urinate wherever she pleased. Jones continued that the officer had then tried to arrest Mars. However, the woman put up a fight, pushing and pulling at Hector. In the process, Jones said, Hector’s clothes were torn.
During the incident, Mars’ co-defendants witnessed the altercation and allegedly threw words at the officer, drawing a crowd to the scene.
One of the women, Barbara Chance, was present in court and pleaded not guilty to the charge of disorderly behaviour. In her defence, Mars stated that she had gotten permission from a police officer known to her to urinate by the outpost as all available washrooms were closed so early in the morning. As she was urinating she was approached by Hector who grabbed her hands. She objected, telling the officer that he could not grab a lady’s hand in such a manner. Mars further stated that Hector retorted angrily and was joined by other officers who pushed her to the ground, handcuffed her, and took her to the Brickdam Police Station. The woman also claimed that her clothes were torn down by the officers during the episode.
After hearing both sides of the matter, Magistrate McLennan fined Mars $5,000 for resisting arrest and placed the woman on $10,000 bail on the other charges. The present co-defendant was placed on $5,000. The women are scheduled to have their matter heard again in Court 10 on January 20.
